Rangers reassign Conor Allen to Hartford

The Rangers have sent defenseman Connor Allen to the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. Allen played three games in his first NHL cuppa, being held off the scoreboard with a -1 rating. Allen played his three games with a 49.1% CF% (+1.4% relative) while starting 54% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Clearly this is a small sample size.

Allen played very well, and this is not the end of his career as a Ranger, although many will believe his demotion is the end of the world. Unless he was perfect, he was always destined to be sent back down. It was good seeing what the kid has. He will work on his game and either be called up again soon, or compete for a roster spot next season.

He was also getting some pretty sheltered mins against bottom end talent on the bottom pairing. I liked the kid too but come on now! If you’re a DZ hater you should hope he plays and plays well. This will only increase his value and the chances he gets traded. The Rangers have seen 3 1/2 seasons of up & down with him. Sather might want to sell high. I think it’s a mistake but the Rangers have needs and other D like Allen!

Why?????? He looked fine!! Don’t remember him screwing up that bad out there. I don’t get it. Unless they need to play MDZ to showcase him for a trade, the move doesn’t make any sense. Or are they just making room for that slug Carcillo; you know, locker space might be limited at the shiny, new MSG. (;

This team has McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Del Zotto, Moore, Stralman, and Falk all healthy. Allen played fine in his NHL debut week. However, he’s the 8th defenseman on the NHL roster. The 7 guys ahead of him don’t warrant being sent to Hartford and you can’t just scratch them because Carcillo just joined the team and a roster spot is needed.

Allen was the logical choice to be sent back down. I’m sure he understands and appreciates the opportunity he was given and the experience he gained. He’ll harness that and use it to make adjustments to his game to keep pace in the NHL. It was a great learning opportunity for him.

He played well. He played as well or better than at least 2 of your healthy 7. At least give him a game at the Garden. Its obvious that MDZ has no future here. Just because you’re healthy doesn’t give you an automatic roster spot. And in MDZ’S case, he’s lucky that they still give him a locker. No one is describing this as apocalyptic, only you; in you continued haste to wave your pom poms in supporting this group of players. He didn’t embarrass himself and really, other than the fact that everybody is healthy, there is NO reason to not keep him here. Couldn’t they have sent down perpetual yo-yo JT. Miller again. He been through it so much this year, he probably thinks he plays for 2 teams anyway!

None of the 7 defensemen should be demoted to the AHL at this point. They are NHL’ers whether you like them or not. And JT has earned a spot on this team, as well, so you can’t / shouldn’t send him down either.

Allen is young and inexperienced and was fortunate to get the call up at all. He did the most with it, but he knew he hadn’t “made it” quite yet. He was just a temporary injury fill-in who earned himself another couple of games due to good play. But it was just his first short-term stint with the big boys.

Whether I like them or not is not the point. Whether they deserve to play IS the point. And going on the year so far, it is not so far fetched an idea to believe that MDZ has lost that right to have a spot in the lineup. Allen did not look out of place, whereas MDZ has yet to Find his place this year. You can’t just keep sticking with something that isn’t working. As for the JT Miller comment, I was being a little facetious, sarcastic if you will; learn to recognize it! Tomorrow night when the current genius behind the bench sits Miller in favor of that future HOFer Carcillo, see how you feel then. And when he gets sent down on Tuesday, you try and justify that move too.

C’mon Joe, there is nothing saracastic about asking “Couldn’t they have sent down perpetual yo-yo JT. Miller again?” Your whole point was Allen should’ve stayed, so why would I think you’re joking when you follow that up with an alternative demotion, i.e. Miller?

Further, I just got through explaining to you why Miller deserves to stay, so why would I justify it if he gets demoted on Tuesday?

I’m arguing that the Allen demotion was unavoidable. Nothing more, let’s not twist that into your usual “pom pom” allegations.

I would think by calling him a yo-yo and basically a 2 team player, even someone like you would get it, but again, I overestimated you. I wasn’t trying to suggest that you justify any demotion of JT. Miller; but from reading your “professional fan” comments over the last few weeks, I’m pretty sure you would somehow find a way to spin it into some career building move on Sather’s part. You know, just another wave of your pom poms. Embrace your blind allegiance. Don’t deny it! If the Season keeps on going like it is, Dolan and Sather will need you and your kind more than ever! If you need anything else explained , just ask.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not saying to send down anybody. What I am saying is playing time should be based on merit. And over the last few games, granted its a small sample, Allen IMO, did not deserve to be sent down. Chris seems to believe that just because you are an NHLer, whether you are playing well or not, that should give you the right to stay with the big club. That’s where we differ. Ideally, they should have 1 extra D man and 2 spare forwards. But still, that should be based on merit: not options and numbers.